The Joint Select Committee on Maine's Energy Future is focused on helping citizens.

We dodged a bullet this winter. Last year, when gas prices reached record highs and the price of oil seemed destined to increase even more, Mainers began to worry about how they could afford to heat their homes during what was forecast to be a very cold winter.

It seemed unthinkable that these prices would go down, but they did, to a greater extent than anyone expected.

We might not be so lucky in the future, given how volatile commodities markets are right now. The temporary reprieve in energy costs presents us with a tremendous opportunity to chart the course for Maine's energy future.

This is why Senate President Libby Mitchell, D-Vassalboro, and House Speaker Hannah Pingree, D-North Haven, created the Joint Select Committee on Maine's Energy Future.

The purpose for this is simple. Even though prices are low now, they will rise again as the economy improves. Therefore, we need to significantly reduce our dependence on oil.

Doing so could significantly lower the cost of powering our homes and businesses, help combat global warming and promote economic development. We can do this by becoming more efficient in our energy usage and developing renewable sources of energy.

Maine is uniquely positioned to integrate all aspects of the sustainable energy economy. First, we can research best practices and develop technology in our excellent university and community college system.

For example, the Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Center at the University of Maine is researching the best way to construct wind turbines for use deep off the coast of Maine, a region that is nationally recognized for its potential for wind power generation.

We can also build the infrastructure necessary for these projects here in Maine, as we witnessed recently with the beginning of Stetson Wind in Washington County. Jobs were created locally for the construction of the facility, as well as for its maintenance and operation.

With the research, development, and construction of these projects occurring in Maine, Maine consumers and business will reap the benefits. Stetson Wind has the potential to power upwards of 23,500 homes. With more locally produced energy, we will be less captive to the volatility in the commodities markets and OPEC.

Beyond the development of renewable energy, another key component in an integrated energy policy is efficiency. The cost-savings associated with conserving energy are mentioned frequently.

But in these difficult economic times, many Mainers are not in a position to buy a new fuel-efficient car or to install new insulation in their homes. So, we must offer incentives to encourage efficiency and to help consumers make the investment.

Some programs already exist through Efficiency Maine, created by the Public Utilities Commission. These include the availability of free Kill-A-Watt electricity monitors at public libraries which can determine the amount of electricity household appliances use, as well as programs to help finance the retrofitting of homes.

More assistance and incentives are needed, including for businesses and homeowners, so that buildings can be weatherized to save both energy and money. We also need to bring all of the state's efficiency programs together under one roof to make it easier for Maine residents to access them.

In order to integrate the energy economy in Maine, the state Legislature has to integrate its work. The Joint Select Committee on Maine's Energy Future was created to bring members together to develop a plan with clear benchmarks.

But to achieve the best outcome, legislators across all committees and of both parties will have to work together on this important issue.

In these difficult times, Maine has reason to be optimistic about the future. As President Obama recently mentioned during his historic inauguration, we must dust ourselves off and get back to work.

Maine has a historic opportunity to become a national leader in developing the sustainable energy economy and in the fight against global warming.

If we take advantage of it, generations to come will reap the benefits.

— Special to the Press Herald

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sen. Phil Bartlett, D-Gorham, is Senate majority leader and Senate chair of the Joint Select Committee on Maine's Energy Future.